“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” -Thomas Jefferson

American Jobs Act | Government Payroll |….another excuse to grow government

The president’s latest stimulus plan is a $447 billion smorgasbord of perks for Democratic leaders and their private-sector clients, but some its fanciest items are hidden behind the main spending proposals.

The 155-page menu offers a $30 billion program for construction at schools and $50 billion for highway construction, but it also provides a sweet tax break for building contractors who stay on good terms with city governments.

Also included is $49 billion in funding for more unemployment benefits, but also a tasty new opportunity for trial lawyers eager to sue states and companies that don’t hire enough candidates who are unemployed.

The bill includes a $35 billion project to keep state and city employees on public payrolls, and a smaller $10 billion fund that would give the federal government even more sway over the construction industry.

“As former congressman Rahm Emanuel says, ‘Never let a crisis go to waste,’” said Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert. “Here we have a a crisis, the economy needs a boost, so this is their chance to get more government, more control,” he said.

“They’re using the bill to do a lot of [legislative] stuff they want to do anyway” but can’t get through a GOP Congress, added Andrew Grossman, a Heritage Foundation fellow.